Selectmen: New Dighton Police Station on track for two-year timetable

The town is on pace with plans to develop a new police station within the next two years.

After announcing in November that Pomroy Associates, of East Bridgewater, would take over as the project managers, Selectmen Chairman Dean Cronin said that requests for quotes for architects were sent out and within the next four months, requests for construction quotes will also be sent out.

The town is on pace with plans to develop a new police station within the next two years.

After announcing in November that Pomroy Associates, of East Bridgewater, would take over as the project managers, Selectmen Chairman Dean Cronin had a few more announcements at the last selectmen’s meeting on Dec. 18. He said that requests for quotes for architects were sent out and within the next four months, requests for construction quotes will also be sent out.

Cronin said that within three months, the site on Somerset Avenue will also be completely cleared in preparation for construction.

“We are up and running,” Cronin said.

At the last selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Patrick Menges thanked Cronin for his dedication to the project, as Cronin has spent entire days at Town Hall working on documents.

Cronin deflected some of that credit and, in turn, thanked Pomroy Associates and the town accountant.

Right now, the only source of concern is whether the new station should be equipped with a regionalized 911 system.

Dighton has been actively trying to court a community or two to make Dighton a 911 hub.

So far, only Seekonk has expressed interest in joining Dighton, which is the geographical center of the county and will have a station equipped to regionalize this service.

Menges said Dighton selectmen will give a presentation in Dighton to the Seekonk selectmen later this month.

Menges said once only one town joins Dighton, it can secure the state funding to move forward.

The proposed 7,020-square-foot police station was approved by voters at the Annual Town Meeting on June 12, 2012 and in a town referendum on Aug. 9 of the same year. The property is on land to the immediate south of the Dighton Power entrance.

The approximately $2.5 million new police station will mean an estimated tax increase for residents of about $14 per year per $100,000 of home valuation, according to the Dighton Assessor’s office reports.